An ancient ruined city of Edom in present-day southwest Jordan. It flourished as a trade center and the capital of Nabataea from the 4th century B.C. until its capture by the Romans in A.D. 106. The city was taken by Muslims in the 7th century and by Crusaders in the 12th century. The ruins of the "rose-red city" were discovered in 1812.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
